Mail-box.



No. 724,092. PATENTEDMAR. 3l, 1903.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 7. 1902.

@w74 ma; i y M www I ma Nonms Pfrzns ca., PHoToLlTHo.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE. r

JOHN I-I. FORNEY, OF BURLINGTON, IOWA.

MAIL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 724,092, dated March 31, 1903. Application filed May 7,1902. Serial No. 106,248. (No model.)

T a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN H. FORNEY, a citizen of the United-States, andaresident of Burlington, in the county of Des Moines and State of Iowa, have made a certain new and uscful Invention in Mail-Boxes; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a perspective view of my mailbox. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same.

This invention has relation to mail-boxes, and has for its object the provision of a box of .this character especially adapted to the needs of persons residing in the country or l farmers for the reception of mail-matter deposited therein for collection by the carrier or by the persons to whom it is addressed.

With this object in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, all as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanyingdrawings, the letterA designates a metal box about six inches in width, eight inches high, and eighteen inches long. The box is provided with a rounded or concave false bottom B,doing away with corners and causing mail-matter,stamps, coins, and other articles deposited to drop to the center of the box,where they can be readily removed. This false bottom has an oblique extension to the upper edge ofthe front of the box, thus facilitating the removal of mailmatter from the box. The lid or cover C of the box is of plane character and is sloping or oblique and is so constructed as to prevent entrance vof snow or rain, having lateral and rear iianges c for this purpose and being provided forwardly with a depending bead or bend c', inclosing a rod-weight at 1 and designed to serve as convenient means for raising the cover with a gloved hand, at the same time keeping the cover securely closed at all times.

At the rear of the box and in the center thereof is secured a spring-stop D, against which the cover B abuts at the limit of its upward movement, preventing jar and wear and facilitating the self-closing of the box.

E is a signal device to indicate that mail matter has been deposited and aiding the carrier in his work. This device consists in the present caseof a metal plate painted some color which will attract attention, Apreferably red, and connected to the box by a chain in such manner that it may be hidden within the box or may hang without and in front of the same.

The hinges of the box-cover are arranged forwardly of the rear edge of the box, and the rear water-excluding flange of the cover operates in conjunction with or fits over a plane forwardly and upwardly extending ob^ lique portion C at the rear of the box, such oblique portion C having a substantially right-angular relation to the cover C when closed. The box is thus to some extent cut away at the rear, which will provide for the action of the spring-stop D and the raising of the cover without undue interference wit an attachment-post or the like.

The casing or outer box A is preferably of rectangular yform,1 and the false bottom is held away therefrom by its fastenings at the edges, so that it is protected from becoming deformed or otherwise injured from accident or rough usage. The front or lip portion of the concave bottom is made convex, as at o, in order to guard the contents of the box when being removed, preventingthe letters from catching or harshly engaging the beaded margin e of the opening of the box. At this points the oblique extension to the up-l per edge of the box-front iits under a rear- Ward'bend of said edge.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A mailbox,having a plane forwardly and upwardly directed extension at the rear, the oblique orsloping plane hinged cover having a substantially right-angular relation to said extension, when closed and having a rear Water-excluding flange adapted to fit over said extension, and having lateral water-excluding flanges, substantially as specified.

2. Amail-box, having the bottom of general 'rectangular form, and having the rearward bend at the upper edge of the front thereof,

IOO

extension, and having lateral water-excluding iianges, and a forward depending bend or bead inclosing a rod-weight, and a spring device for limiting upward movement of the cover, and lying within the space left by said extension, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JNO. H. FORNEY.

Witnesses:

C. H. MOHLAND, S. J. BECKMAN. 

